Originally Posted By karlg It looks like I will have Friday night the Dec. 12th and Saturday the 13th on the end of a Business trip to go back to TDL. BTW, thanks to the recommendations on this board, I'm going to Hakone tomorrow. I'll be in Downtown Tokyo or perhaps Shin-Yokohama during the week but I'm thinking about trying to stay nearer TDL on Friday and Saturday night. I remember reading in the past on this forum that there are some recommended hotels nearby, but I can't find the topics. I'd like to keep the room rate below $150US or about 14000 Yen if possible.
Originally Posted By karlg It looks like I will have Friday night the Dec. 12th and Saturday the 13th on the end of a Business trip to go back to TDL. BTW, thanks to the recommendations on this board, I'm going to Hakone tomorrow. I'll be in Downtown Tokyo or perhaps Shin-Yokohama during the week but I'm thinking about trying to stay nearer TDL on Friday and Saturday night. I remember reading in the past on this forum that there are some recommended hotels nearby, but I can't find the topics. I'd like to keep the room rate below $150US or about 14000 Yen if possible.
Originally Posted By SuperDry People have said good things about the Universe. I see that asiarooms.com has rooms listed at the Universe for your nights for $135/night.
Originally Posted By Mr X Not sure what the prices are right now (I believe it's peak rates?), but you might try the Oriental Tokyo Bay at Shin-Urayasu station. If you're lucky, I think you might find a room near your price range. Rooms are nothing special, but the location is excellent. Just 3 minutes to the resort on the Keiyo line which is just outside the hotel doors. Shin-Urayasu is a good area to be in late night as well, if you're looking for food or drinks (much better than resort proper, as SD can attest to). Hey SD, where is this Universe Hotel?
Originally Posted By SuperDry Nihonbashi. TDLFAN always talked about it as being clean and efficient, and convenient to getting to the resort. I looked into it once and considered staying there if I needed an off-property location, but never ended up doing so.
Originally Posted By Roger55 I wouldn't say Nihonbashi is THAT convenient to get to Maihama. The quickest way I can think of would take two transfers (Nihonbashi > Kayabacho > Hatchobori > Maihama), one being switching from the Metro to the JR (different ticket hassle). One could walk 10 minutes to Ginza-itchome and make just one transfer (Ginza-itchome > Shin-kiba > Maihama). This again would call for a Metro to JR transfer. A no transfer options would be to make a 15 minute walk from Nihombashi to Tokyo Station (International Forum entrance) to catch the JR Keiyo/Musashino line directly to Maihama. I like to try to stay somewhere along the JR Keiyo/Musashino line. There are hotels right across the street from Tokyo Station in the Yaesu district. I have also stayed on the opposite side (Chiba) of Maihama at the Kaihin Makuhari area but that area tends to be expensive and hard to get into.
Originally Posted By Mr X Actually, the quickest AND cheapest way would be to take the Tozai line rapid from Nihonbashi directly to Urayasu station, and then the #9 bus to Maihama from there.
Originally Posted By Roger55 Ahh, I am not too familiar yet with using the bus system. I'm in love the rail system. Lol So how late do the buses run and how frequently? My reading Japanese is so poor and I have found the bus system to be less bilingual. Timetables and bus stand info tends to be in Japanese. I do take the bus when my friends give me detailed instructions! Lol Thanks for that piece of info X.
Originally Posted By Mr X That's true, the bus can be more confusing. As to frequency, I'd say something like 3-4 per hour. The longest you would have to wait (with bad luck) would be 20 minutes or so maybe. They don't run so late. Perhaps 10:30 or so would be your last bus. So, it definitely has its' drawbacks. But on a normal day for me, if I were trying to get from Nihonbashi to Maihama, I wouldn't think of any other way (the train ride itself is a mere 14 minutes and you're in town, the bus adds another 10-15 minutes to that I'd say...but no long train station walks, expensive connections, or anything like that. In case anyone does read this and take the bus, please note that there are a few different bus stops around the station, the number 9 stop is just across the main road "scramble" (6-way crosswalk) near the station, staying on the SAME side of the road as the station exit. Okay, that was confusing even for me! In the simplest terms, go down the escalator and walk STRAIGHT through the turnstyles, bear slightly to the right onto the sidewalk, and walk STRAIGHT (through the scramble keep walking straight and don't turn right or go diagonally) and walk straight another 20-30 seconds til you see a bus stop. Ugh, it's much simpler to do than to write I guess lol. Anyway, pretty much just keep walking straight...the bus stop is essentially 2 minutes walk straight in the same direction as the station escalator. Any trouble, ask anyone for the "q-ban basu" (number 9 is pronounced "q", kind of like the letter...works in a pinch anyway lol). The cost is ¥140.
Originally Posted By karlg First question. How can I book a room at the Oriental Tokyo Bay? Do I need to call them as I can't figure it out from their web site? Right now I'm staying at the Shinagawa Prince that week, but I can't get a room for Saturday Night (originally I was suppose to fly out on Friday night, but now I am going to leave on Sunday and thus the opportunity to see TDL, but Saturday night is sold out). I have been able to book a room at the Shin Yokohama for Saturday but that will mean figuring how to get my bags to S-Yokohama on Friday (not impossible but a hassle - either run bags out to S-Yokohama early Friday morning before going to TDS or stop at Shinaqawa after TDS). With the JR Rail Card and the fast trains from S-Yokohama, I can get to TDL almost as fast from S-Yokohama as from Shinagawa on the local trains (although I have to watch the shedules as the trains are only every half hour or so). BTW, Friday should be an interesting day. I have a meeting at 1PM until 3PM. I hope to get to TDS for opening and the first few hours to get in some rides. I will take a change of cloths to the park to store in a locker. Then go to my business meetings and then back that night for shows. This is also why I would like to find a better place to stay, particularly in terms of moving luggage.
Originally Posted By karlg Correction in case anyone follows my previous message. It will be Saturday where I will have to move the bags either before or after TDL with my current hotel reservations. Even more of a challenge with TDL opening at 8AM (thus will probabaly go for the move bags after leaving TDL). Also, BTW, S-Yokahama Prince is not available for Friday night (which was another option I was looking at).
Originally Posted By Mr X I think you might need to call. You could ask for an English speaker perhaps, or maybe the hotel you're at now could assist you? That might be your best bet. The number for the Oriental is 047-381-0851.
Originally Posted By Mr X I just checked anyway, they're fully booked on Friday and Saturday. Hope you can work something out!
Originally Posted By karlg Sorry to be so complicated. I have a room for Tues through Friday at the Shinagawa Prince but Saturday is not available. I was wanting to find a room for two nights (Friday and Saturday) but there are no rooms at the Shinagawa Prince on Saturday night. The Shin Yokahama as rooms on Saturday but not Friday, go figure (the S-Yokahama is a nicer hotel too and a bit more expensive and I now know my way around and how to get to TDL from either hotel). Its not the end of the world either way as I have the JR Rail Pass so I only care about TIME as long as it is JR Rail which generally means staying near a JR Rail station.
Originally Posted By karlg Thanks a bunch X for checking and the other help. At least right now I have a place to sleep and a way to make it happen. The "fun" part will be getting the bags moved around.
Originally Posted By Mr X No problem. Seems like staying in Yokohama isn't such a biggie in your case with the quick Shinkansen ride. Might as well go with it, I'd say (I doubt if you'll find rooms available at your price range if the Oriental is booked, though anything is possible). Good luck with the bags!
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi If staying near Yokohama St. or Shinagawa St., the Tokaido Line is the best option to get to Tokyo Station. Just remember to get in the cars towards the end of the trains. Those are the closest to the walkway for Keiyo Line. -- MagicalNezumi
